The Urban League Technology Center to become an ATTAIN Lab

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo has secured an initial investment of $1 million to fund an Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) lab at the Broome County Urban League Technology Center on Exchange Street and a satellite lab at the Binghamton Housing Authority's Carlisle Hills community.

The ATTAIN labs, a first in the Southern Tier, are a network of technology laboratories located across New York State. They provide expanded workforce development programs and technology access. The implementation of an ATTAIN lab at the Urban League Technology Center and Carlisle Hills will enhance the already existing programs being offered and will benefit the community by now being able to offer free instruction and certifications. Assemblywoman Lupardo's goal is to "encourage this partnership so that our community can benefit from access to state-of-the-art computer education with ongoing support from UCAWD" (University Center for Academic and Workforce Development). "This recognizes the wonderful work that was already being done here in the Southern Tier."

By partnering with the UCAWD, the Urban League Technology Center will be able to increase access to connectivity, increase employability skills and access to employment, increase access to academic and vocational education, and increase knowledge of technology to benefit the workplace productivity. We will offer over 30 interactive occupational, academic, life skills and ESL courses as well continuing to offer Digital Literacy and Unlimited Potential curricula.

The new ATTAIN will be located in two facilities - the Urban League Technology Center on Exchange Street in Binghamton and the all new computer lab at Binghamton Housing's Carlisle apartment complex. These ATTAIN labs will offer technology training for free to the community, and in particular to our community's TANF population. In addition to offering premium workforce competency programs, our goal is to offer free Microsoft certifications such as IC3 and Office Specialist. Each ATTAIN lab will be equipped with Video Teleconferencing to encourage e-learning and geographic partnerships for education. Our goal is to have our Technology Center become YOUR Center for free technology education and occupational training. Partnering with our community agencies and using our ATTAIN facility will help us fulfill our mission of bringing the opportunity for economic and social stability to our community.